Correct movement descriptions...
Movement descriptions being correct would seem obvious, but some serious errors are made. The below three examples are not on the account of the official Austrian School (AS). That's represented (best) by the Österreichische Skischulverband (ÖSSV), the Austrian Association of Ski Schools. The 2018 edition of its book Vom Einstieg Zur Perfektion is here regarded as its reference work.
The examples are on the account of other schools or sources, but those are influential enough to be counted.
Ankle roll?
One error is by an official of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA). He speaks (at 1:55) of an ankle roll inside the ski boot as an important mechanism that makes skis turn. 'Ankle roll' is a layman's term for inversion and eversion, which are lateral movements.
But there's hardly any lateral ankle movement possible inside a well fitted and adjusted modern ski boot. It's much too high and stiff for that. It only allows some dorsiflexion, if the body weight is used:
Within certain movement patterns, in- or eversion muscles will contract. That can give the feeling that something's happening inside the boot. Which is true, but that does not result in an actual in- or eversion.
The feet most certainly do move! But apart from the dorsiflexion (and the relative plantar flexion if the body weight is taken off again), the movements that result in foot movement, take place higher up in the chain, especially the knee and hip joints. That will be shown on later pages.
So the CSIA is clearly incorrect on this issue.
Inner leg does it all?
Another influential source states that "the action of the [new] inside foot will create a turn for both skis", and that that action is sufficient. In reality however, in his demo he (also) relatively shifts his center of mass (COM) to the inside of his — new, strongly reduced — base of support (BOS). And he internally rotates his right leg.
Apparently he doesn't realize that, but it is easily proved. Just try his left little-toe movement while putting and keeping your weight steady over your right ski. You will not turn. Next, add leaning to the left. But only that — a pure lateral tilt without rotating your right leg or upper body. You will turn then, but only very slowly.
Much slower than he is, in the demo. If you want to turn as quickly as he is, you will also have to rotate your right leg inward (= the toes go inward, the heel goes outward).
...that are in line with the kinesiological sciences
The being in accordance with is important for two reasons. The first is that ski instruction could benefit greatly from scientific research, both at amateur and pro level. To stimulate such research, the skiing terminology should conform to the scientific terminology. The second reason is that it strongly promotes uniformity of terminology among authors and instructors.
And it isn't difficult. The number of body part and movement terms needed for correct movement descriptions is very limited. And many matters have a scientifically correct non-Latin name as well, such as knee, hip joint and trunk. But one should not use unclear or unlikely terms or concepts like "release the turn", "blocking pole plant", "ski rebound effect" or "foot roll".
"Release the turn"
With "releasing the turn" is meant that at a certain point the skis are intentionally made to skid rather than carve. However, it is not the turn that is released, but the body's hold on the ski edging. So the correct term is "release the edging". (Not "release the edge", because that means that the steel edge is released from the rest of the ski.)
Obviously, the same counts for "holding the turn": it is not the turn is held, but the edging. In this case it should be: hold the edging.
"Blocking pole plant"
A blocking pole plant does exist, in Ski Ballet:
But not in regular competitive skiing. The length of a normally planted normal pole creates an enormous leverage on the wrist. Which would require immensely strong wrist muscles for a blocking effect. Much, much stronger than they are, even in the strongest person on Earth.
Such a pole plant will not even be able to deliver any significant rotational force to the skis. For such an effect, a different pole and a different way of holding it is needed:
Pole planting can be very useful. Especially on hard, steep slopes, as shown in this photo:
But that supports the shift of the weight and the rotation of the shoulders downhill, which facilitate a quick turn. So, it should be called a supporting pole plant, not a blocking one, as some sources do.
"Ski rebound effect"
A rebound effect can be felt in well performed medium- to high-speed short turns, on Slalom skis. It is then felt somewhere halfway the turn. And an actual ski rebound does exist in itself, too. If you let an alpine ski rest with its tip and tail on two chairs, apply manual pressure on its waist and abruptly release that pressure, you will see the ski spring back up.
But then, you are releasing the pressure abruptly, and the pressure is only manual. If you release it a bit more gradually, there is no spring up effect. Also, the human body weighs much more than you can apply manually. Most certainly if you add the centrifugal force that occurs in a turn. And skis can stretch much less than springboards and trampolines.
The feeling of a rebound in skiing is the result of the proper technique you must have for it, plus two other characteristics of a Slalom ski — a short length and a rather large sidecut. Those two combined with medium speed can make the ski turn so fast that it feels as if the feet are pushed to the other side. Just like a ski rebound would.
If you have the proper technique, you can test that for yourself. Take two pairs of skis, one Slalom pair (max. length 1.65, max. radius 13.5), and one Super G pair (min. length 2.05, min. radius 40). Try to create the rebound feeling with identical short turns at medium speed. The Super G ski is longer and has a more favorable spring constant, which should result in more rebound.
But as you will notice, the feeling of rebound is noticeably less with the Super G pair. So, the feeling of rebound comes from turning fast, not from a ski's spring effect.
"Foot roll"
In skiing, "foot roll" is a synonym for "ankle roll", in turn a synonym for inversion/eversion. However, as argued, a properly fitted and adjusted modern boot does not allow any in- and eversion. The foot/ankle/lower leg unit can make movements that would resemble that, but they are actually internal and external rotation of the lower leg in the knee.
Also, in golf, 'foot roll' concerns a very different concept:
One might want to argue that that would be the fault of golf instructors, but that doesn't take away the confusion if the ski learner plays golf as well. Which many British, Americans and Canadians do. If everyone would just stick to the terms, descriptions and concepts used in the human movement sciences, such confusions would not arise. Even if some of those would need some explanation.
Change log
- V. 1.1: synchronized some terms.
- V. 1.2: deleted section 'Moving inward for Plow with parallel?'; edited section 'Ankle roll?'.
Continue to Improvement III →
